Artisans from Rwanda and other regional countries are expected to showcase their best products during a competition scheduled for June 20, at Gikondo Expo Grounds in Kigali.

The fair will also attract participants from Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, according to the Minister for Trade and Industry, Francois Kanimba.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Kanimba said the regional artisans’competition is intended to promote innovation in the handcraft sector and encourage making of products that have demand on the market.Rwandan participants will be drawn from 75 winners of the 5th edition of the Handcraft Excellence Award Programme (HEAP).

Minister Kanimba said handcraft sector contributes over 3 per cent to the national economy and its promotion was vital to national development.

"Government has decided to promote handcrafts and make it a profession. We want our artisans to be innovative, to make presentable products and we are sure they have the ability. We empower and train them through HEAP, and have started Ikaze Showroom where they showcase and sell their products,” he said.

Kanimba added that a public auction will follow the regional competition to sell the best products in order to motivate artisans to produce more and better products.

Paulin Rugero Chairperson Chamber of Crafts, Artists and Artisans, Private Sector Federation, appreciated the government’s support toward handcrafts and urged crafts makers to make their trade part of the formal sector.

"We want our products to be known and sold worldwide and the coming regional competition is in this spirit.

Today, Rwandan artisans participate in exhibitions in Italy, Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and they will soon go to Portugal, thanks to the government’s support,” he said.

Rugero, who doubles as the president of Indashyikirwa Crafts Association Rwanda (ICAR), added that artisans have made tremendous progress since the annual HEAP competition started.

Jean Marie Vianney Nsabimana, one of the seventy-five best artisans and managing director of Ufundi Maendeleo company, said that HEAP has prepared him and is now ready to face regional competitors.

"HEAP has provided us with a lot of competences, it has encouraged us to value our work and we now produce quality materials. We are quite ready for the EAC competition and we shall learn much from it. We are talented with handcraft abilities and have acquired training to enhance our talent making it a profession,” he said.

Judith Murekatete, the Coordinator of Agaseke cooperative, based in Gatsata, Gasabo District, said she has beautifully woven products to bring to regional competition.

Murekatete asked the government to help artisans with a sensitisation drive aimed at changing Rwandans’ mindset about locally made products.

"We always come across different handcrafts from abroad in hotels in Kigali yet we have better ones in our stores. So, we ask the government to sensitise Rwandans on using products made in Rwanda,” she said.

Minister Kanimba said the government has embarked on ‘Made in Rwanda’ campaign to market local products in order to reduce the country’s trade deficit. The drive will also benefit artisans since Rwandans will be encouraged to buy locally made products.

HEAP 5th edition competition has been conducted in all provinces but has been limited to seven sub-sections, including painting and sculptures, leather processing, textile, weaving (basketry and jewelleries), wood work, agro-processing and metal work.

After the selection of the best handcraft producers countrywide, the artisans will now meet their regional counterparts in a competition which has been organised by ICAR in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

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